Whole Planet Foundation

Business: Raising Cattle
Warke lives in the city/region of Gordama/Aleta Wandu where she runs a cow business. Her first loan was for 1,000 Ethiopian birr ($57 USD), 700 of which she invested in a cow and 300 in her son's education at university. She has invested subsequent loans into her cattle business which was her family's business when she was young.
Her business has grown: she fattened her first cow and sold it for 2,500, profit of 1,800, paid back her loan and interest and sent son to school with the profits, and bought another cow. Her dream for the future of her business is more profit to help her son finish school and for all her children to have a good job. She also plans to extend her business to house renting.
She personally did not attend school but dreams of her children having opportunities she did not have including school and jobs.
Warke decided to become a client because she heard about OMFI, savings from her neighbors.
She holds the treasurer position in her borrower group and her responsibilities include collect payments and savings, providing training to other members and enforcing repayment. She is a leader in her community.

Brigida uses her loan to make and sell the tasty Peruvian breakfast drinks from her stand in the market. The drinks are served warm and are made of grains such as quinoa or oatmeal, and they are filling and nutritious. Brigida is treasurer of her microcredit group with Pro Mujer.

Business: small farm

Claudine, a farmer in Jurwe, Rwanda, is a microcredit client of Whole Planet Foundation partner One Acre Fund. She was one of the first farmers to plant last season. Her first season's maize harvest "was the best harvest I've ever seen," she said. She harvested 440 pounds of maize on 1/10 acre of land; her best harvest before that was 110 pounds of maize. She attributed her increase in harvest to the One Acre Fund planting method. This season, she is increasing the amount of land she cultivates with One Acre Fund to 1/4 acre, and she will plant beans as well as maize. Last season, Claudine kept part of her maize harvest at home for her family, and she sold part of it to buy a goat. With her next harvest, she is dreaming of purchasing a cow. "With a cow, I can sell milk and use the money to send my children to university," she said. Claudine has two daughters, Zita, who is eighteen, and Betty, who is fourteen. Zita wants to become a nurse, and Betty wants to become a teacher. "My dream is that they will become great people," Claudine said.

Ana has always worked to support her family by caring for the home, but until recently had not been able to contribute economically. "Without capital it was hard to begin a small business to earn resources for the family."

In May 2006 Ana along with a group of 4 other women decided to join Grameen Guatemala to access her first loan of approximately $100. The credit would give her a chance to invest in a business to help earn money for family expenses.

"Since the loan, we now have more food to eat and it has helped with clothing," said Ana of the loan. She used the capital to buy 12 chickens that she has raised and sold to the local market. The confidence gained with this first experience has enabled her to take out an even larger loan of $170 to purchase more chickens and material for weaving artisan crafts.

With her income, Ana intends to build a house for her family and provide an education for her two children. She has already made strides to attain this goal by saving nearly $40 from the sale of chicken and weavings.

Business: Jujube Fruit

Business: Produce

Business: Produce

Business: Seamstress

 Maria decided to join Grameen Guatemala to request her first loan of $183 to produce artisan goods.

Maria, a wife and mother of three has never had problems selling her belts used in the traditional Guatemalan dress. The earnings are used to cover basic family expenses like food and clothes. Before her first loan, she could only buy enough beads to make one belt at a time and would have to pay a premium for purchasing small quantities.

After taking her first loan, Maria increased her profit margin by 33% with the reduced costs for purchasing beads in bulk. "With the additional income, I will invest in education for my children," she explains when talking about she intends to invest her earnings.

Business: Animal Husbandry

Business: Raising Bulls

Business: Jewelry Store